The wonderful world of wearable tech is a lot more diverse and sophisticated these days versus back when gym bunnies started accessorising with a Jawbone (you had to be there). Today’s wearables are fashionable, discreet, and more capable than ever – some are even saving lives. Here’s what’s on the radar for 2025.
Smart Rings
About a decade ago, smartwatches took over the world, heralding the start of the wearable tech trend. There were one or two clunky ones on the wrists of serious runners and then, suddenly, everyone had them. If this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is anything to go by, 2025 could be the year of the smart ring. Leading the race so far has been the Oura Ring, which launched its new Symptom Radar feature in December. It uses biometric data to flag early signs of illness before you feel sick. Circular has pioneered a way to digitalise the process of ring sizing (one of the drawbacks of smart rings until now). Ultrahuman has produce a luxury smart ring made of 18-karat gold (which starts at R35 000). And AI-powered Luna Ring unveiled a battery that lasts up to 30 days.
Smart Glasses
Considering the number of spy movies we all grew up on, this version of wearable tech hasn’t taken off like 10-year-old us might have imagined it would. But with tech x fashion partnerships like Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses making the tech more aesthetically appealing, it’s only a matter of time. Meanwhile Halliday is moving closer to spy movie territory with an invisible display and lightweight frames that look like regular specs.
Health Wearables
We’re long past the days when heart rate monitors were considered cutting edge. FRENZ Brainband is an award-winning, research-backed wearable that looks straight out of Star Trek – and has Starfleet-level functionality, too. It tracks and stimulates brain activity, helping you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply at night and concentrate better during the day.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are wearables that help Type-1 diabetics monitor their blood glucose without constant finger pricking. But with blood glucose management becoming more widespread even outside of diabetes, CGMs are going mainstream. Dexcom and Abbott both launched over-the-counter CGMs at this year’s CES.
Sensoria Fitness has a range of fitness clothing with sensors embedded into the garments – you can get running socks that measure your foot strike and sports bras that track your heart rate.
Smartwatches
The OGs of wearable tech are going nowhere and they’re getting smarter. Garmin’s new Instinct 3 is more of an orienteering multitool than just a watch. Features include a built-in torch, scratch-resistant glass, an AMOLED display and 18-day battery life in smartwatch mode. Next-gen Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch models are expected later in the year.
These devices are not just trendy but useful to have, especially if you're trying to be more health conscious. But you’ll need a decent smartphone to get all the data these wearables are compiling. Check out the Vodacom online shop for some great smartphone deals.
